Hbo’s ‘Welcome to Derry’ Unleashes an Unexpected Episode
WHO:
Screen Rant - Pennywise returns in HBO’s *It: Welcome to Derry*.
TheWrap - *It: Welcome to Derry* is a horror drama set in Stephen King’s *It* universe and produced by Warner Bros. Television.
TheWrap - The series is executive-produced by Andy and Barbara Muschietti through their Double Dream production company. Other executive producers are Brad Caleb Kane, Roy Lee, Dan Lin, Jamie Travis, and Dhana Gilbert.
TheWrap - Brad Caleb Kane will be the sole showrunner for Season 2.
TheWrap - HBO Max Original Programming Head Sarah Aubrey said: “We are excited to return to the chilling world of Derry and to further expand on Andy and Barbara Muschietti’s horrifically iconic adaptation.”
TheWrap - The Muschiettis said: “Continuing to explore and expand on the amazing world Stephen King created is an absolute privilege,” adding, “The support of our partners at HBO and Warner Bros. Television is priceless. Boy do we love our jobs!”
WHAT:
Variety - The special is set hundreds of years before the series’ events and Pennywise’s introduction.
TVLine - The episode features three teenaged Native American girls encountering It in the woods; their encounter leads to the formation of the 13 sacred pillars around Derry.
TVLine - The special is the show’s second annual spooky-season surprise; the previous year, Episode 2 of the first season was released on Halloween, two days before its scheduled airdate.
TVLine - Three teenaged Native American girls encounter It in the woods, and their experience leads to the formation of the 13 sacred pillars that surround Derry and keep the entity caged.
TVLine - In Season 1, one of the sacred pillars was dislodged, allowing Pennywise an opportunity to leave Derry; the Losers’ Club restored the cage.
Deadline - HBO Max described the special as “a never-before-seen special exploring the origins of IT in Derry.”
Screen Rant - HBO released a surprise episode of *It: Welcome to Derry* titled “A Story of Derry.”
TheWrap - The surprise episode is a 30-minute special. Its story follows three youngsters who venture into the Western Wood and encounter “a terrifying ancient spirit.”
TheWrap - Online speculation connected the special to a possible origin story for the Shokopiwath tribe, Indigenous people referenced in Episode 4.
TheWrap - HBO renewed the series for Season 2. The season is set in 1935, during the Great Depression, and centers on the bloody massacre of the Bradley Gang, bank robbers who stop in Derry to buy ammunition and encounter horror.
TheWrap - The series ranked among the top four global series premieres in HBO Max history.
TheWrap - *It: Welcome to Derry: A Story of Derry* is streaming on HBO Max.
Mashable - HBO teased a new season of *It: Welcome to Derry* with a 30-minute Halloween special.
WHERE:
TVLine - The 13 sacred pillars surround Derry.
TheWrap - The special’s story takes place in the Western Wood; Season 2 is set in Derry.
TheWrap - The special and series are available on HBO Max.
WHEN:
TVLine - Last year, Episode 2 was released two days before its scheduled airdate.
TheWrap - The surprise special was released Saturday at midnight to commemorate Halloween.
TheWrap - Season 2’s story takes place in 1935.
WHY:
Screen Rant - The episode was released in time for Halloween.
TheWrap - The special was released to commemorate Halloween.
HOW:
Deadline - HBO Max promoted the special on Instagram with a brief clip and the caption: “IT’s a surprise Halloween treat. Catch this never-before-seen special exploring the origins of IT in Derry.”
TheWrap - HBO released the special on HBO Max; it runs 30 minutes.
TheWrap - Season 2 will deepen the series’ Pennywise lore, Sarah Aubrey said.
(UPDATED October 31, 2026 22:57 UTC)
HBO renewed It: Welcome to Derry and released a surprise Halloween special exploring It’s origins. Three Native American girls encounter the entity in the woods near Derry. The upcoming season, led by Brad Caleb Kane, unfolds during the Great Depression.
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(UPDATED October 31, 2026 21:58 UTC)
HBO surprised viewers with a half-hour special, “A Story of Derry,” expanding Pennywise’s origins. The episode follows three Native American girls encountering an ancient spirit in the woods. HBO renewed the series for Season 2, set amid Derry’s 1935 gang massacre.
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(UPDATED October 31, 2026 16:02 UTC)
HBO renewed *It: Welcome to Derry* for a second season, set during the Great Depression. The renewal came with a surprise Halloween special, following youngsters into Derry’s Western Wood. The 30-minute episode is streaming on HBO Max, where the series ranks among top premieres.